Five more centres to open in first 100 days of new government
A new GP walk-in service will open in the centre of Aberdeen later this month, Health Secretary Angela Constance has announced.
Based within Aberdeen Health Village on Frederick Street, the new clinic will open on 23 June for any member of the public to attend, with no appointment necessary.
The service will be open on a phased basis initially, run by GPs, Advanced Nurse Practitioners and nurses, offering same day care and treatment for minor illnesses.
The Aberdeen city centre site will be the seventh GP walk-in service across Scotland to open since the start of the year, and the first of the five centres the Scottish Government has committed to open in its first 100 days.
Walk-in centres have opened in Edinburgh, Dundee, Western Isles, Stranraer, Lerwick and Hawick in just over four months and speaking on a visit to the site of the Aberdeen GP walk-in service, Health Secretary Angela Constance said: “The new walk-in centre in the heart of Aberdeen city centre will be an asset to local health services in the area and plans are progressing at pace to welcome patients from the 23rd June.
“We know that accessing GP services on the day, when you need urgent care, can be a source of frustration. That’s why we have opened GP-led walk-in services across the country to support with on the day care to address the ‘8am rush’ and relieve pressure on GP surgeries – freeing up capacity to focus on complex and long-term care.
“We value the key role and expertise that GPs have to play in people’s care. We are underpinning that by increasing investment in general practice by £531 million over three years to significantly boost recruitment from this year, helping to deliver the capacity needed to improve services for patients.”
Emma King, Primary Care Lead for Aberdeen City Health & Social Care Partnership, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to the Aberdeen GP walk-in centre as we make the final preparations for opening to the public later this month.
2We are looking forward to getting to work and testing this new approach to improving access to same-day care.”
16 GP walk-in services were planned initially, backed by £36 million of investment. Five of these, including the one in Aberdeen, are due to open within the first 100 days of this government.
A process to identify 14 more sites, to a total of 30, is currently underway.
Initial 16 planned GP walk-in sites
Phase One
Wester Hailes, Edinburgh – NHS Lothian
Lochee GP Practice, Dundee – NHS Tayside
Benbecula – NHS Western Isles
Stranraer – NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Lerwick – NHS Shetland
Hawick – NHS Borders
Invergordon – NHS Highland
Dunoon – NHS Highland
Aberdeen – NHS Grampian
Cardonald, Glasgow – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Moray – NHS Grampian
Aberdeenshire – NHS Grampian
Sauchie, Alloa – NHS Forth Valley
Phase Two
East Ayrshire, NHS Ayrshire and Arran
Clydesdale, NHS Lanarkshire
Central Fife, NHS Fife
Locations for an additional 14 additional GP walk-in sites, taking the total number of planned services to 30, will be announced within the first 100 days of the new Scottish Government.
Delegates from across the world will unite in Scotland from 15 – 19 June for a weeklong celebration of the role of arts in improving health and wellbeing.
The second iteration of Healing Arts Scotland will include flagship days in Shetland, Lewis & Harris, Dumfries & Galloway, Glasgow and a National Conference in Edinburgh, alongside creative health community activities across the country.
Tickets are on sale now, find your nearest event and book here.
Building on the success of 2024, which included 376 events across Scotland and influenced national policy, Healing Arts Scotland 2026 will include an international conference, artist commissions, exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and an artist-led communications campaign promoting the arts as a ‘health behavior’, much like exercise, sleep and good nutrition.
Speakers and delegates from across the globe including Singapore, Japan, USA, Spain, Denmark, Norway, and Ukraine will gather to share their research and findings of the lasting health benefits the arts, with a focus on three key themes:
1. Arts, Health and Environment: the role of the arts to support community engagement with nature and address the health impacts of climate change.
2. Innovation in Arts & Health: Arts-based health interventions created using innovation and technology to improve lives and build communities
3. Arts & Health Across the Life Stages: National programs featuring intergenerational activities, prevention & youth led initiatives
This national event coincides with the 2026 release of Professor Daisy Fancourt’s best-selling book Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transforms our Health; the publication in May of a landmark report from University College London linking engagement in arts with a slower pace of ageing; and the pre-launch of a UK Arts & Health: The Time is Now policy brief by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab and National Centre for Creative Health.
Speakers at the event will include Assistant Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Program, Larissa Trinder; inaugural People’s Artist of New York City, Yazmany Arboleda; Chief Officer, Public Health Scotland, Manira Ahmed; Director of Research initiatives for the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, Dr. Jill Sonke; Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti; Jameel Arts & Health Lab Co-Directors, Dr. Nils Fietje (WHO Europe), Dr. Nisha Sajnani (NYU Steinhardt) and Stephen Stapleton (CULTRUNNERS); and Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Sir Gregor Smith, whose annual Realistic Medicine Conference will close the week with a focus on the impact of arts in healthcare settings.
Performers from Oi Musica, Karaback, Samba Y Bamba, Scottish Ballet, TRYST and the Youth Pipe Band gather outside the Scottish Parliament for a public performance to mark the start of Healing Arts Scotland, a country-wide celebration of arts and health.
Nicola Benedetti, who was recently appointed the first Global Ambassador for Healing Arts, commented: “Through my work with the Edinburgh International Festival, I see every day the profound role that artistic experiences can play in bringing people together, opening space for reflection and fostering a sense of belonging.
“To contribute to this global “Healing Arts” conversation is a responsibility we all share, to ensure that creativity in all its forms, is recognised as an essential part of a healthier, more connected society.”
Healing Arts Scotland is part of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab’s global Healing Arts campaign, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, and spearheaded by a coalition of organizations bridging culture, healthcare, education and policy, including Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, Creative Scotland, National Galleries Scotland, Scottish Ballet, Arts Culture Health & Wellbeing Scotland, International Teaching Artists Collaborative (ITAC) and NHS Scotland. Core funding has been provided by Creative Scotland and the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, with in-kind support from partners across Scotland.
Dr. Nils Fietje fromWHO Regional Office for Europe commented: “It is wonderful to see colleagues from across the Scottish Government and the health and culture sectors uniting to bring the healing power of the arts to wider communities than ever before.
“Scotland is a vibrant place for arts and health that is constantly inspiring new initiatives across the world.”
SASS4US (Support And Survival Skills for Unleashing self love) is a trauma support group facilitated through LIFT, bringing together women aged 20 to 50 from the Muirhouse and West Pilton communities.
The group provides a safe and supportive space where women can talk openly about life experiences, mental health, personal challenges, and goals for the future. Around eighteen women attend every week.
Through mutual support, encouragement, and understanding, members work together to build confidence, develop resilience, embrace positive change, and support one another in their personal journeys.
Recently, many group members shared their concerns about the negative atmosphere they feel has developed within the local community. Some residents have expressed feeling anxious or even afraid to visit local shops, and there is a growing sense that negative stories are overshadowing the many positive aspects of the area.
Wanting to make a difference, the women of SASS4US decided to take positive action. They created inspirational stones and uplifting quotations, which have been placed throughout the Muirhouse and West Pilton communities.
Their writings aim is to spread kindness, hope, and encouragement, while reminding people that even small acts of positivity can have a meaningful impact.
This project reflects the group’s commitment not only to supporting each other’s wellbeing but also to helping create a stronger, more connected, and more hopeful community for everyone.
The girls would like to be anonymous as they want to start making these each month and placing them around the community continuously.
Morven MacKinnon was inspired by loved ones to develop her Degree Show project
An Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) student has drawn inspiration from her gran to design a space for people experiencing hair loss.
Morven MacKinnon’s project, The Wellness Factory, is the concept of a treatment centre based in the Biscuit Factory in Leith.
Her work is on display alongside fellow Interior & Spatial Design students as part of ENU’s 2026 Degree Show – which is currently being held at its Merchiston campus.
A combination of sketches, visual renderings and a scale model, The Wellness Factory imagines a treatment centre specialising in hair loss and regrowth, with a strong focus on nutrition and overall wellbeing of an individual.
It is designed as an inviting, stress-free environment, with an open plan food hall and breakout areas to promote connection and recovery.
The 22-year-old from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire was inspired by loved ones who have experienced hair loss. She said: “A lot of people close to me have been affected by hair loss – my gran being one of them.
“She went through chemotherapy twice and lost her hair. I understand how difficult it can be, so I wanted to do something which would help people in that situation.
“My gran was a massive help in putting it all together. I interviewed her to ask how she felt about it at the time.
“It is an understandably touchy subject for anyone who has gone through it. I think she was quite moved that I chose this as a project.
“I focussed on three case studies in particular, alopecia, eating disorders and chemotherapy patients.
“It formed a big part of my concept – which is bringing people together. People I interviewed told me how it is such a lonely and daunting prospect.”
For Morven the Degree Show marks a full-circle moment, as it was where she made the decision to study at Edinburgh Napier University.
She added: “I always wanted to do something arty and creative, so I spent time looking at different degree shows around the country.
“The work at Edinburgh Napier stood out as being very impressive. It looked so professional and clean, it really stuck with me.
“I’ve had sleepless nights putting my final project together, but I’m so excited to show it off.
“The lecturers have been amazing. You can tell how passionate they are. I can’t wait to start my career now.”
Showcasing work from across ENU’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, the 2026 Degree Show is being held at the University’s Merchiston campus between 29 May and 5 June.
The newly re-elected Scottish Government must show that it is serious about tackling overcrowding in Emergency Departments – as A&E waiting time records continue to be broken.
New figures on ED performance from Public Health Scotland covering the month of April 2026 were published today (2 June).
In April, fewer than two thirds (64.2%) of major ED attendances were admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours. The government-mandated target is 95%.
Meanwhile, almost one in eight (12.4%, or 14,846) patients waited more than eight hours.
This made that month the worst April since records began for eight and four-hour waiting time metrics in ED.
A total of 6,196 – or 5.1% of patients – waited more than 12 hours – constituting the second worst April on record.
Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM Scotland Vice President, said: “Emergency Department clinicians are working tirelessly to try to provide safe and good care to our patients – but the pressure is overwhelming and relentless.
“We are out of winter. This time of year is supposed to see a break in the clouds. Instead, we are as busy as ever.”
Today’s data also showed that, in April 2026, there were an average of 1,902 beds occupied by patients medically fit to leave each day – also known as delayed discharges.
This constitutes a serious problem and is a driver of ED overcrowding because it means patients in need of admission from A&E cannot get a bed. This can result in extremely long waits for these extremely sick patients.
As RCEM revealed last year, these waits can be deadly: in 2025, there 871 excess deaths associated with long waits for admission in ED.
Dr Hunter said: “At last month’s elections, the incumbent SNP-run Scottish Government retained power. We must see votes repaid with real, concrete action on A&E overcrowding.
“The new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Angela Constance has an uphill battle ahead of her. As today’s numbers show, waiting times are among the worst they’ve ever been for this time of year.
“Enduring such waits in an ED is stressful, undignified and we know it can cause harm to patients.
“Meanwhile, there has been no significant or meaningful improvement in the number of delayed discharges – a key metric of patient flow.
“We call on the government to make tackling hospital overcrowding a priority and refuse to allow the current situation to continue. Just because our waits are better than other UK nations does not mean they should be accepted.”
Nine in 10 children and young people begin mental health treatment within 18 weeks of referral
The latest figures, published today, show that 91.2% of children and young people referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) began treatment within 18 weeks — meeting the national standard for a sustained period.
One in two children referred to CAMHS is now starting treatment within six weeks — compared to one in two starting within 12 weeks before the pandemic.
Waits of over 18 weeks are at their lowest level since 2013, down nearly 20% in the past year.
The longest waits have fallen to their lowest level since 2015, with 12 out of 14 Boards now reporting zero patients waiting over a year.
Mental Wellbeing Minister Maree Todd said: “These figures reflect the dedication and hard work of CAMHS teams right across Scotland, and I am truly pleased to see these sustained and significant improvements in waiting times.
“We have increased CAMHS staffing by 51.6% over the last decade, and exceeded our commitment to fund 320 additional posts by 2026 — increasing capacity for cases by over 10,000. This investment is making a real difference to children and young people across the country.
“While there is still more to do, and we will not be complacent, today’s figures are genuinely encouraging. Long waits remain unacceptable and we will continue to support every Board to meet the standard.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition responded:“While we welcome the fact that one in two children referred to CAMHS is now starting treatment within six weeks — compared to one in two starting within 12 weeks before the pandemic, this is still in itself too long and there is much work to do to tackle the current mental health emergency.
“We still have just under 300 children and young people who have been waiting for more than nine months for treatment and 23 more than a year.
“Many children and young people are still waiting years for help, which worsens their mental health and is a sure-fire way to add to their pain.
“What we need is not just parity of esteem between mental health and physical health, it’s parity of action and parity of spend.
“Each one of these statistics is an individual, and we would urge the new Scottish Government to ensure the adequate resourcing of mental health services for our children and young people so that they can get the care and support they need, without lengthy waits.”
A day after World No Tobacco Day, and a full year after the ban on selling single-use vapes in Scotland came into force, environmental and health organisations and campaigners are calling for further action to protect people and our environment.
While a positive decrease in littered vapes has been recorded in Scotland, alongside a 9% decrease across the UK, there is little data available to identify whether the ban has helped reduce youth vaping. And, the ongoing challenges of disposing of vapes safely, capturing precious resources via recycling, alongside tackling the ever present and harmful issue of smoking-related litter remains.
Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Before taking action on disposable vapes, it was estimated that over half of disposable vapes were incorrectly disposed of each year in Scotland – creating a fire risk and littering our beautiful environment.
“These findings are a welcome demonstration of the success the single-use vape ban has had in its first year in tackling the threat they pose to our environment as well as to our public health.”
Alongside the Marine Conservation Society, health charity ASH Scotland and environmental scientist, campaigner and ambassador to our charity Laura Anderson (Young), we first liaised with Scottish Ministers to call for a ban on the sale of single-use vapes in 2022 after highlighting how vapes undermine the principles of a circular economy, cause harm to Scotland’s environment and damage people’s health.
Now a year-on from the ban the coalition is calling for further action, to build on the momentum and take further steps to address smoking-related litter and health impacts in children and young people – you can read the letter we sent to Scottish Ministers – calling for more action – below.
The coalition will continue to work collaboratively to tackle vapes and smoking related litter and build on its commitment to a cleaner, healthier Scotland.
THE LETTER READS:
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs Scottish Government St Andrew’s House Edinburgh EH1 3DG 21st May 2026
Dear Ministers,
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointments as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, and Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs. As a coalition of organisations and individuals working to protect and improve Scotland’s environmental and public health, we look forward to working with you on tobacco and nicotine related litter.
Marking progress: disposable vapes ban anniversary
As we approach the anniversary of Scotland’s ban on single-use disposable vapes, we wanted to recognise the brilliant cross government working that led to the legislation coming into force, and the role Scotland played in pioneering the introduction of the ban
Laura Anderson (nee Young), also known as Less Waste Laura, is an environmental campaigner and a signatory to this letter. She catapulted the issue of littered single-use vapes to the forefront of public awareness in 2022. Since then, she has inspired politicians, charities and councils to take action to tackle Scotland’s fastest growing litter item.
The Marine Conservation Society, Keep Scotland Beautiful and ASH Scotland worked closely with Laura and others to raise awareness of this issue and call for the ban on both environmental and public health grounds which came into force on the 1st June 2025.
The ban has been an important step in raising awareness of, and tackling litter that pollutes our landscapes, communities and marine environment. Early indications in litter data from Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Marine Conservation Society show a decline in littered single-use vapes.
Initial Source to Sea litter data from the Marine Conservation Society demonstrates a 9% decrease in the presence of vapes across the UK.
Keep Scotland Beautiful has seen a decrease in the percentage of sites recording a presence of littered vapes – with vapes found on just 5% of Scottish sites.
As there has been no robust data about children’s use of vapes since the 2021/22 Health and Wellbeing Census, it is currently not possible to identify whether the ban on single-use vapes has been impactful in tackling youth vaping.
The ongoing challenge of smoking-related litter
Smoking-related litter — particularly cigarette butts — continues to be one of the most commonly discarded items in Scotland’s streets, green spaces and coastlines. Keep Scotland Beautiful auditors counted almost 20,000 cigarette butts nationally in 2025/2026.
Marine Conservation Society Beachwatch data from 2025 highlighted over 2000 smoking related litter items were found on Scottish beaches and Keep Scotland Beautiful found 60% of sites nationally were polluted by cigarette butts. These contain plastics and harmful chemicals that persist in the environment, pollute waterways and pose risks to wildlife.
Cigarette filters do not reduce health harm but mislead people who smoke into perceiving cigarettes to be safer and discourage attempts to quit smoking.
In the recent passing of the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which had a four nations approach, and the associated Legislative Consent Motions, we were pleased to see the extension of provisions to ban some or all cigarette filters in the future. Local authorities, communities and volunteers bear a significant burden in clearing this waste, yet prevention remains the most effective and sustainable solution.
Opportunities for further action
We believe there is a clear opportunity to build on the momentum of the single use vape ban and take further steps to address smoking-related litter.
We believe the following steps would help to achieve this:
1. Introduce an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme (EPR) for tobacco and nicotine waste not covered by market restrictions. 2. Increase awareness and tighten up the enforcement of existing Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the Waste Batteries Regulations for producers, distributors and retailers of vapes including disposal and recycling. 3. Ban the sale and manufacture of single-use cigarette filters which offer no health benefits and exacerbate environmental damage. 4. Require businesses to report on the number of vapes (as a percentage sold) that are returned for recycling under WEEE. 5. Routinely publish robust data on children in Scotland’s use of tobacco and nicotine products.
Taking forward these measures would deliver clear environmental, social and economic benefits—supporting cleaner communities, healthier ecosystems, and reduced clean-up costs.
A shared ambition
Our organisations share a commitment to a cleaner, healthier Scotland. We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your officials to discuss how we can work collaboratively to tackle vapes and smoking-related litter and build on Scotland’s leadership in this area.
We are planning on issuing a press release on Wednesday 27th May focusing on this statistical information and our collaborative asks, under embargo for 1st June. We invite comments from both of you to include to highlight the successes and further opportunities.
We wish you every success, and look forward to engaging with you in the months ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Less Waste Laura Marine Conservation Society Keep Scotland Beautiful ASH Scotland
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (the “RCPE”) is urging Scotland’s MSPs in the new session of Parliament to support a national pilot programme to monitor air pollution around city primary schools, following compelling evidence that Scottish children may be exposed to harmful levels of pollution that are currently going unmeasured.
The proposal, led by the RCPE’s Air Pollution Working Group, calls for a pilot study to look at air quality around schools by installing of air quality monitors around three schools in each of four major Scottish cities — Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen — over a minimum period of one year. This duration is essential to capture seasonal variation and provide reliable, policy-relevant data.
The RCPE is urging MSPs from all of Scotland’s political parties to press Ministers in the new Scottish Government to support the pilot.
Why the pilot is required
Scotland rightly prides itself on having some of the cleanest air in the world and among the strongest air quality standards in Europe. Low Emission Zones and investment in cleaner public transport have delivered real progress.
However, new evidence shows that harmful health effects occur at pollution levels below current Scottish targets, particularly for children — prompting the World Health Organization to issue significantly tighter Global Air Quality Guidelines in 2021.
Despite this, pilot mapping carried out by the RCPE reveals a stark gap: air quality is rarely monitored near schools. Across five Scottish cities, over 60% of primary and secondary schools are more than one kilometre from the nearest air quality monitor. Only one primary school was found to be within 50 metres of a particulate matter monitor. The Air Pollution Working Group’s research has now been published in the BMJ Public Health Journal.
“This is a blind spot in our public health system,” said Professor Jill Belch OBE, Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group. “We know that children are more vulnerable than adults to air pollution, yet we are failing to measure what they are breathing during the school day.”
Why schools matter
Schools are often located near busy roads and junctions. Pollution levels are intensified by the ‘school run’, idling vehicles, and congestion during drop-off and pick-up times. Vehicle emissions release nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and fine particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀), pollutants known to damage the lungs, heart, brain, immune system and metabolic health of children.
Robust UK and international evidence links air pollution exposure in childhood to:
impaired lung growth and increased asthma risk
effects on brain development, cognition, behaviour and educational attainment
higher blood pressure and early markers of cardiovascular disease
increased hospital admissions, with over 1,000 excess child admissions per year in Scotland on high-pollution days
These harms are not evenly distributed. Children from more deprived communities are more likely to attend schools in areas with higher pollution, compounding existing health inequalities and environmental injustice.
A practical, affordable pilot with national impact
The proposed pilot would deploy proven Airly air quality monitors within 50 metres of selected schools, measuring NO₂, PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ continuously for 12 months. The project would be delivered in partnership with local authorities and an experienced UK environmental consultancy, ensuring data quality, transparency and independence.
Crucially, the programme includes a citizen science and education component, enabling pupils to engage with real-time data, understand pollution’s health effects, and influence behaviour change such as reducing engine idling and encouraging active travel.
Because the project spans four cities rather than a single neighbourhood, it falls outside traditional community or charity funding models — making political leadership and public investment essential.
Strong professional and workforce backing
The proposal has received full endorsement from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the teachers’ union NASUWT.
Mike Corbett, National Official, NASUWT Scotland stated:“Being able to quantify the scale of the problem around our schools is the first step to cleaning up the air our children breathe and moving towards a healthier and safer future.
“NASUWT is therefore very pleased to endorse and support this proposal.”
A clear call to action
The data generated by this pilot would directly inform local and national decision-making, guiding targeted interventions such as no-idling zones, low-traffic streets, cleaner school transport, greening measures and safer routes for walking and cycling. The findings would be reported to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee, local councils, schools and the public.
In light of recent European human rights rulings recognising that failure to address environmental pollution can violate the right to life, the case for action is both moral and legal.
“There is overwhelming evidence that air pollution harms children — often permanently,” said: Professor Belch.
“What Scotland currently lacks is the data around schools to act decisively. This pilot programme is a modest, affordable step that could deliver lifelong health benefits for our children and reduce entrenched inequalities.”
Professor Mark Strachan, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and Co-chair of the College’s Air Pollution Working Group, said: The College has serious concerns at the lack of data on air quality levels around urban schools and considers that this gap must be addressed as a priority.
“Our Air Pollution Working Group has worked hard to develop a practical and affordable pilot proposal for air quality monitoring around urban schools and I hope that this can be supported by all of our political parties in Scotland.
“It is extremely important that we have an evidence base for mitigation where that is required given the serious impacts poor air quality can have on the health of our children and young people.”
Scotland’s political parties are now being asked to show leadership — and ensure that every child has the right to breathe clean air at school.
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